OBSERVATIONS ON PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTIVITY IN RELATION TO HYDROGRAPHY IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC

This work, carried out within the framework of the PRISMA II project, aims at evaluating the effects of the Po River flow on primary productivity, measured by C with in situ sample incubations. A total of four cruises was carried out in late winter and early summer (1996-1998) along transects from the coast offshore. In both seasons, the highest primary productivity was found in the most oligohaline stations. The effects of the Po River inputs were therefore clearly evident in the westernmost area, both in high productivity values and in the shape of productivity profiles. In late winter, extensive blooms of Skeletonema costatum and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima resulted in productivity values that were sometimes higher than in early summer. In early summer 1996, greatly reduced river flow clearly influenced productivity which was much lower than in 1997.     

广州轨道交通三号线高速行驶条件下对安全限界的影响研究

给出了轨道交通车辆横向偏移量的计算方法 ,并应用列车 -线路动力耦合模型 ,分析了广州地铁三号线的安全限界变化问题。确定了当前按 80km/h行车速度设计的建筑限界能满足 13 0km/h行车速度的要求 ,限界尺寸不需改动可保证列车运行安全平稳     

Acid Deposition in the Tuscan Appennines During the Dry Period 1988-89

The typical parameters of acid precipitation are evaluated in the forest of Vallombrosa (Tuscan Appennines) during the dry period 1988-89. Individual rain events (dry and wet deposition) were sampled in a clearing of the forest and below the canopy of an evergreen tree as well as a deciduous broadleaf tree.

In atmospheric precipitation the pH values usually vary around 4.4, with neutralization in the hot season due to calcareous material from distant sources. Relatively large concentrations of Pb and Cd are found in rain, but only in a small amount in canopy leachate. Aluminium, manganese and iron are more significantly washed off than Pb and Cd.     

Trophoblast-like cells sorted from peripheral maternal blood using flow cytometry: A multiparametric study involving transmission electron microscopy and fetal dna amplification

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against trophoblast (GB17, GB21, and GB25) and flow cytometry were used to sort trophoblast-like cells (TLCs) from peripheral blood of pregnant women. Sorted TLCs were processed for electron microscopy and fetal DNA amplification of the Y-specific sequences from mothers carrying male fetuses. At the ultra-structural level, most of the nucleated cells had the morphology of leucocytes, suggesting maternal contaminants, and we did not find the characteristic features of the free inter-villous trophoblast cells. Nevertheless, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed an amplification of Y-specific sequences in two out of three samples of sorted TLCs. These results suggest that besides the maternal leucocytes, sufficient trophoblast nucleated fetal cells can be obtained using cell enrichment by sorting. This sensitive method holds promise for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex and if sufficient Y(positive) nuclei are found, for the diagnosis of selected numerical chromosome abnormalities.     

Human induced salinisation and the use of quantitative methods

Sustainable development of the earth's limited water and land resources is of paramount importance because of rising world population and existing conflicting demands for these resources. Enormous capital investment has been made in developing these resources, but now there is irrefutable evidence that such developments have led to major resource degradation. This includes problems of salinisation and damages to ecosystems. The countries predominantly affected by human induced salinisation are located in arid and semi-arid regions of the world and include Australia, China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, USSR, and USA. This paper describes the processes of salinisation, its impacts and the use of quantitative methods in salinity investigation and management. Australia is used as a case study of typical salinity problems and as a demonstration of the fruitful application of quantitative methods. The paper concludes that quantitative methods such as surface water and groundwater models are powerful design, management and predictive tools in salinity investigation. However, application of some models, such as those for unsaturated flow and transport and groundwater solute transport, are not widespread due to uncertainties in describing the complexity of the processes and the lack of hydrodispersive data.     

滇池鲤鱼的背景元素调查

通过滇池鲤鱼与松花坝水库和国内外同类鲤鱼的元素含量对比,确认滇池鲤鱼受工业污水的危害影响主要是As、Se。鱼体As、Se含量目前已经超过正常值,Ni、Cr、Cu、Fe、Pb比正常值偏低,其它元素属正常值范围。为了避免过多的元素富集,建议滇池鲤鱼以半年到一年为生长捕捞期为宜。     

Prenatal diagnosis of femur-fibula-ulna complex by ultrasonography in a male fetus at 24 weeks of gestation

We present a case of ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis at 24 weeks of femur—fibula—ulna (FFU) complex. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an early prenatal diagnosis of FFU.     

Effect of Habitat Fragmentation and Isolation on the Population of Alpine Musk Deer

The alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) is a key species of some terrestrial ecosystems, it has an important economic and conservative significance as a kind of medical animal in China. Due to the interaction between natural forces and human disturbance, the habitats of alpine musk deer are fragmented and isolated in different mountains and the populations are confronted with many problems of survival. In this paper, we discuss the impact of habitat fragmentation and isolation on alpine musk deer populations based on the investigation on the population densities and sizes and environmental factors in different reserves, as well as on the analysis of its ecological adaptability. We found that the alpine musk deer has strong ecological adaptability; the population development of alpine musk deer may benefit from the reduction of the forest area and even from the fragmentation and isolation of the habitat to a certain extent. However, deforestion should not be encouraged only for the alpine musk deer population, but should also be based on the overall consideration of biodiversity conservation.     

In situ assessment of modification of sediment properties by burrowing invertebrates

Benthic organisms can significantly alter the physical properties of marine sediments, but it has hitherto been difficult to assess and quantify the effects of bioturbation. In situ geophysical techniques offer new methods for measuring these effects: measurement of acoustic shear-wave velocity and electrical resistivity allows nondestructive assessment of the properties of the grain framework and pore-fluid matrix, respectively, of the seabed sediment. The influence of burrowing invertebrates on the structural properties of sandy sediments at intertidal locations on the coast of Wales (UK) was investigated during the periol 1986–1987 using these techniques. Three species (Arenicola marina, Corophium arenarium and Lanice conchilega) were selected on the basis of their contrasting styles of burrow construction. All three species produced measurable and significant, although different, changes in bed properties. They modified shear-wave propagation through the bed by changing bed rigidity: while A. marina and C. arenarium decreased rigidity by creating open burrows, L. conchilega increased rigidity by building shell-lined tubes. All produced a decrease in electrical resistivity by altering porosity and/or tortuosity, which implies an increase in permeability; these changes were attributable not only to the presence of the burrows but also to modification of the between-burrow sediment texture and bed properties.